Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse (the French name "Les Éclaireurs" means "the Enlighteners" or "the Scouts") is a slightly conically shaped lighthouse standing on the northeastern-most islet of the five or more Les Eclaireurs islets, which it takes its name from, 5 seamiles east of Ushuaia in the Beagle Channel, Tierra del Fuego, southern Argentina. The brick-built tower is 10 metres (33 ft) high and 3 metres (10 ft) wide at the base, with its windowless wall painted red-white-red and topped by a black lantern housing and galery. Only a door pointing to the west provides access to the building. The light is 22.5 metres (74 ft) above sealevel emitting white and red flashes of 5 sec duration with a range of 7.5 seamiles. The lighthouse, still in operation, is remote-controlled, automated, uninhabited, and not open to the public, garding the sea entrance to Ushuaia. Electricity is supplied by solar-panels. On December 23, 1920 the lighthouse was put into service - today probably the most photographed lighthouse in Southamerica.
It is known to the Argentines, somewhat inaccurately, as the Lighthouse at the End of the World (Faro del fin del mundo). It is a popular tourist attraction, reached on short boat tours from Ushuaia. It is often confused with the San Juan de Salvamento lighthouse on the east coast of the remote Isla de los Estados, made famous by Jules Verne in the novel The Lighthouse at the End of the World, which is actually much further east.
 |
This article about a Argentine building or structure is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 |
This lighthouse-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
